RV Technician

August/September 2011

Test Air Conditioners Faster With A Tool You Can Make Yourself PPaaggee 88

Rubber Roof Repair And Maintenance PPaaggee 55

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August/September 2011

Roof Maintenance 5

Taking Care Of Rubber Roofs

Air Conditioners 8

Repairing roof damage page 5

Troubleshooting Air Conditioners

Electrical 11

Understanding EMS

An AC testing device to make page 8

Training & Certification 13

An RV Technician Pioneer

Top This!

15

Understanding EMS page 11

Question Everything—Especially Your Own Assumptions

DEPARTMENTS 3

Board of Directors

4

From the Editor

17 New Products 18 Recalls

Certification page 22 RV Tech Mitch Graska page 13

RVDA LEARNING CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chairman Jeff Pastore Hartville RV Center, Inc. Hartville, OH (330) 877-3500 jeff@hartvillerv.com

Director Mick Ferkey Greeneway, Inc. Wisconsin Rapids, WI (715) 325-5170 markferkey@greenewayrv.com

Director Tim O'Brien Circle K RVs, Inc. Lapeer, MI (810) 664-1942 t.obrien@circlekrvs.com

Vice Chairman Dan Pearson PleasureLand RV Center, Inc. St. Cloud, MN (320) 251-7588 D.Pearson@pleasurelandrv.com

Director Eleonore Hamm RVDA of Canada Richmond, BC (604) 204-0559 eleonore_hamm@rvda.ca

Secretary/Treasurer Bill Koster Protective St. Louis, MO (636) 536-5704 bill.koster@protective.com

Director Andy Heck Alpin Haus Amsterdam, NY (518) 842-5900 aheck@alpinhaus.com

Director Randy Packard Natl Assn of RV Parks & Campgrounds/Pine Acres Family Camping Resort Oakham, MA (508) 882-9511 opa203@aol.com

President Mike Molino, CAE RVDA Fairfax, VA (703) 591-7130 mmolino@rvda.org

Director Jeff Hirsch Campers Inn of Kingston Kingston, NH (603) 642-5555 jhirsch@campersinn.com

Director Bob Been Affinity RV Service Sales & Rentals Prescott, AZ (928) 445-7910 bobbeen@affinityrv.com

Director Rick Horsey Parkview RV Center Smyrna, DE (302) 653-6619 rhorsey@parkviewrv.com

Director Randy Biles Pikes Peak Traveland, Inc. Colorado Springs, CO (719) 596-2716 rwbiles@pikespeakrv.com

Director Newt Kindlund Kindlund Investments Winter Park, FL (407) 628-4211 newt@kindlund.com

Director Debbie Brunoforte Little Dealers, Little Prices Mesa, AZ (480) 834-9581 dbrunoforte@littledealer.com

Director Matthew Miller Newmar Corporation Nappanee, IN (574) 773-2381 mlmiller@newmarcorp.com

Director Steve Plemmons Bill Plemmons RV World Rural Hall, NC (336) 377-2213 steve@billplemmonsrv.com Director Jim Sheldon Monaco RV, LLC Rancho Mirage, CA (760) 883-5556 jim.sheldo@monacorv.com Director Tom Stinnett Tom Stinnett RV Freedom Center Clarksville, IN (812) 282-7718 tstinnett@stinnettrv.com Director Ed Thor Coach-Net Lake Havasu City, AZ (928) 855-2860 ethor@coach-net.com Director Brian Wilkins Wilkins R.V., Inc. Bath, NY (607) 776-3103 bwilkins@wilkinsrv.com

RVDA EDUCATION FOUNDATION STAFF

Mike Molino, CAE RVDA Education Foundation President Ronnie Hepp, CAE Vice President for Administration Phil Ingrassia, CAE Vice President for Communications Karin Van Duyse Chief, RV Learning Center Mary Anne Shreve Editor

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Chuck Boyd Dealer Services Manager Susan Charter Associate Services Manager Hank Fortune Director of Finance Jeff Kurowski Director of Industry Relations Brett Richardson, Esq., CAE Director of Legal & Regulatory Affairs

Liz Shoemaker Education Coordinator Butch Thomas Field Representative Robin Walker Accountant Tony Yerman RV Service Consultant Isabel McGrath Technician Certification Registrar

FROM THE EDITOR

August/September 2011

Working Smarter And Staying Cooler Sometimes it’s just too hot to move.

Especially when the mercury soars into triple digits and you’re working on a unit with a broken air conditioner. To spare himself some time and effort climbing ladders, contributing writer and master tech Steve Savage designed a diagnostic tool for troubleshooting air conditioners with less walking back and forth between thermostat and control box. His tester is inexpensive to make and only requires 10 minutes to assemble. Find out how it can make your life a little easier in “Troubleshoot Air Conditioners Faster With A Tester You Can Make.”

Combine all of the power-sucking appliances and conveniences in today’s RVs with unpredictable power sources from one camping location to another, and the result can be nuisance tripping of the shore power breaker. Energy management systems (EMS) were developed to combat the problem by switching off loads when the level of power being used in the coach exceeds the limit of the incoming shore power.

The EMS not only helps RV owners avoid a total loss of power, it can also be a troubleshooting tool for techs. Read more about

testing for overload conditions in “Understanding EMS.” Rubber roofs account for more than 70 percent of RV roofs today, thanks to their versatility, long life, and ease of repair. But they do require routine maintenance such as regular washings to protect against mold, stains, and tree sap. And punctures and rips can be repaired with various sizes of peeland-stick self-adhering materials. Dicor Products’ technical team has put together an informative article titled “Taking Care of Rubber Roofs” that demos these techniques.

Have you had experiences when customers weren’t completely forthcoming with important information about their RVs? Better read “Question Everything— Especially Your Own Assumptions,” by Savage.

Mary Anne Shreve Editor 3930 University Drive Fairfax, VA 22030 mashreve@rvda.org (703) 591-7130 x117

RV Technician Advisory Board Randy Biles, Pikes Peak Traveland, Inc. Tom Fribley, Fribley Technical Services, Inc. Ellen Kietzmann, Blue Ox Gary Motley, Motley RV Repair Steve Savage, Mobility RV Service Page 4

Roof Maintenance

Taking Care Of Rubber Roofs From Dicor Products Technical Team

Rubber roofs are the number one choice for today’s RVs. More than 2 million units with rubber roofs are now on the road. They require less lifetime maintenance, eliminate “roof rumble,” and have passed the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) 20-year accelerated aging test with no discoloration.

First introduced in the 1960s, rubber roofs’ popularity started in the 1970s, and by the 1980s they accounted for 40 percent of the RV roofing market. Today, they account for upwards of 70 percent of RV roofs.

EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) is one of the most versatile and long-lasting materials used for rubber roofs. It is costeffective and easy to maintain and repair.

EPDM provides excellent resistance to ultra-violet rays, ozone, and oxidants and performs well under severe weather.

Care and maintenance The care of a rubber roof begins with understanding how damage occurs. For example, EPDM roofing membranes are specially formulated to be more punctureresistant than ordinary rubber, but these

materials can still be cut or punctured by sharp objects. So be careful when placing items on the roof, walking on the roof, or parking under low-hanging tree branches.

Avoid areas where fruit, tree sap, or harsh environmental fallout could stay on the roof for an extended period of time. These conditions may result in permanent stains. If your roof is exposed to such conditions, you may need to increase the frequency of your roof cleaning.

Cleaning Caution: As with any roof surface, a rubber roof can be very slippery, especially when wet. When you’re on the roof, navigate on your hands and feet to distribute the weight more evenly and reduce the possibility of falling.

Dicor recommends that rubber roofs be cleaned at least four times annually, using these steps: 1. Completely rinse the roof with clean water to remove loose dirt and debris.

Animal damage (left) and mold and mildew (right) are some common forms of roof damage.

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2. Use a medium bristle brush and a concentrated cleaning agent mixed with two or three gallons of water. Work in small sections, starting at one end and working toward your point of exit. Scrub and rinse thoroughly with clean water to avoid residue buildup on the roof or sidewalls.

3. For difficult areas, repeat step two.

4. Caution: Do not use petroleum distillates to clean the roof—they may cause permanent damage.

Roof protection After cleaning the roof, add a protective sealant that’s mild and non-abrasive. This kind of protection helps minimize oxidation, drying, and cracking, and leaves a finish that repels dust and water. It will help reduce fading from UV rays and keep surfaces cleaner longer.

To use, spray the protectant onto the clean surface, out of direct sunlight. Wipe with a soft cloth or damp sponge mop for even coverage. For maximum protection, apply every three to five weeks or as necessary.

Restore it!

Over time, a roof will show signs of aging— but you can inject more life into it with roof restoration products (see the restoration difference in the photo below).

Dicor’s two-step restoration system combines a cleaner/activator that cleans and prepares the surface in one step and helps promote adhesion of the specially formulated EPDM rubber roof acrylic coating. This provides a protective shield to help extend the life of the membrane. This is recommended for older roofs and any roof that is tired, dirty, or stained.

Caution: Do NOT use cleaners or conditioners containing petroleum products, hard abrasives, or citric-based cleaners. These products may cause irreparable damage to the roof and/or void your warranty.

You may also need a lap sealant to touch up or replace existing lap sealants around roof protrusions such as vents, skylights, and trim strips. If the old sealant has pulled away from the roof, remove it and reseal. If it has only surface cracks, just seal over. A cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol to eliminate foreign material from the seal provides a good prep for the new sealant.

Just make sure it dries (about 15 minutes) before putting on the new lap sealant.

Repairs For heavy-duty repairs—those with extensive damage—Dicor has a peel-andstick product that comes in 6-inch or 12-inch widths by 25-foot lengths. For smaller repairs, it has 4-inch by 50-foot rolls of peeland-stick self-adhering material, and for very small repairs, there are 6-inch square patches.

To repair a puncture or rip, clean the area with rubber roof cleaner, rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely. Then, using a soft cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol, clean the area again and let dry. Cut the

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membrane to extend over the hole, making sure it overlaps the damaged area by two inches on all sides.

DO NOT use multiple patches for a single repair—use the correct size. It’s important to position any patch on the first try; the patch shouldn’t be lifted and repositioned.

Frequently Asked Questions Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about maintenance and repair of rubber roofs.

Is it necessary to protect my rubber roof against UV rays?

No, but Dicor products will give additional protection.

If I use a roof treatment product containing petroleum distillates on my rubber roof, will that void my warranty?

Yes. How can I tell if my RV’s previous owner damaged it by using petroleum distillates? What should I look for?

Two things: swelling and uneven thickness of material, and loose areas. Petroleum distillates soak in and cause the adhesion to loosen and the membrane to balloon. When the ballooning goes down, the membrane may never adhere properly or completely.

My roof seems to “oxidize” and run

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down the sides when it rains. Is this normal?

Yes, it’s normal. By oxidizing, the EPDM rubber roof is protecting itself from damaging UV rays. Over the roof’s lifetime, this process claims about the thickness of two sheets of notebook paper. Cleaning at least four times a year will help greatly.

Is it easy to repair tears in the roof membrane?

Any tear in an EPDM roof membrane can be repaired using a number of repair methods. For instance, prepackaged peeland-stick repair kits work well on small tears (up to 8 inches), while larger kits should be used on large damaged areas. There are also rolls of peel-and-stick material for long, narrow tears.

A supplier told me his roof treatment only had a small amount of petroleum distillate—about 10 to 30 percent. Is that OK to use on my roof?

No. Usually the percentages are given based on weight. Since petroleum distillates are significantly lighter than water, the reality is that 30 percent by weight might be 40 percent or more by volume. THERE IS NO LEVEL OF PETROLEUM DISTILLATES THAT IS RECOMMENDED. Note: Dicor’s lap sealant contains a petroleum distillate used strictly in the curing process. As the sealant cures, the petroleum distillate evaporates. This will not harm your roof.

The rubber roofing wraps over slightly on both sides of my RV and can be seen from the ground. What can I do about this?

Clean the area and treat it with a product that will repel soiling and is safe for EPDM.

Air Conditioners

Troubleshoot Air Conditioners Faster With A Tester You Can Make In 10 Minutes

By Steve Savage

This summer’s triple-digit temperatures have filled the service bays with air conditioner service work. When it’s this hot, I hate to do more thinking and moving than absolutely necessary. That means I want a fast, accurate way to troubleshoot coolers.

The thing I dislike most about servicing air conditioners, besides the heat, is the awkwardness of accessing the receptacle on the control box to check for power to the rooftop components. To use the light bulb method prescribed by Dometic for its units, most techs drop the control box, making it easier to reach. You can do the same thing on RV Products’ air conditioners, or else work overhead with your meter.

Of course, even in travel trailers you still have to walk back and forth between the thermostat and the control box, or have someone operate the thermostat while you do the checking at the box. I work alone and got tired of the walk from stat to control box, so several years ago I put together $40 worth of parts to make two circuit testers.

air conditioning unit that connects a pigtail from the rooftop unit to a receptacle in a control box mounted inside the RV, including units with manual controls.

To make my circuit tester, you’ll need: 1. The pigtail off a rooftop unit scheduled for the recycler 2. Four light socket adapters (Lowes part #71105) 3. Four 40-watt rough service light bulbs Begin by cutting the pigtail off inside the junction “J” box of the roof top unit, leaving it as long as possible. Next, tie one lead from each socket adapter to one colored lead on the pigtail. Now, tie the remaining leads from all the sockets to the white lead on the pigtail. When wired correctly, each bulb is fed by a different color lead from the pigtail, and shares a common neutral (see photo one below).

I have shared this device with other technicians and at training seminars. It takes about 10 minutes to make. You’ll need to make one circuit tester for Dometic air conditioners and one for RV Products, because they use different pigtails. The receptacles feeding power to rooftop units have stayed the same for years, so these testers can be used on units spanning a wide range of models. They’ll work on any Page 8

Photo one: Your tester should look like this.

The green pigtail lead can be left free, as it is not necessary to test circuit function.

Finally, insert a light bulb in each socket.

That’s your new tester.

First up: AC and DC voltages The first step in troubleshooting any appliance is to check both AC and DC voltages. If DC voltage is off, control systems do crazy things, and if AC voltage is low, you may inadvertently spend time troubleshooting the air conditioning unit when the problem is the campground power supply or the generator. With campgrounds so full this summer, more than half the air conditioner problems I’ve checked were due to inadequate low voltage and had nothing to do with the air conditioner itself. Getting detailed information from the customer is helpful before tackling any problem.

Now drop the filter cover and disconnect the plug connecting the rooftop unit to the control box and plug in the tester you have just assembled. Select “fan” on the thermostat and set the fan switch to “low” speed. One light bulb should come on.

Switch the fan speed to “high” and the light bulb that was lit will go out and a different light bulb will come on. Move the selector from “fan on” to “auto” and the bulb should go out. So far so good—in less than 60 seconds, you’ve established that the thermostat and control box are working to supply power to the fan motor in the rooftop unit.

Next, leave the fan switch on “auto” and cycle the selector switch on the thermostat to “cool.” Set the temperature down so the thermostat is calling for cooling. You should see two bulbs light up (see photo two, top of next column).

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Photo two: Two bulbs should come on, indicating power to the compressor and power to the fan motor.

One bulb indicates power to the compressor and the other indicates power to the fan motor. To clarify: You’re essentially completing the same steps you routinely do with the light socket adapter on Dometic units or with your meter on an RVP unit.

Don’t forget—some systems have a built-in three-minute delay. That means no lights will appear for three minutes after selecting “cool” and “auto” on the thermostat.

Sometimes the control system isn’t working.

When that happens, a bulb won’t light, meaning the rooftop unit isn’t getting power for whatever function you selected on the thermostat (see photo three, next page). In that case, the problem isn’t on the roof, it’s with the controls inside the RV. It could be as simple as DC or AC power, but using your circuit tester, you have already eliminated a climb in the heat.

Here are a few additional thoughts. If you’re really obsessive, it’s possible to use different colored bulbs in your tester to designate fan speeds and the compressor motor, although I have never felt it necessary. If you check your service manual, you can tell by the color on the pigtail leads which bulb checks what on the roof. What you quickly discover, however, is that as long as bulbs switch with changes at the thermostat and you have two lit bulbs in cool mode, you are good to go.

Photo three: When the control system isn’t working, a bulb won’t light, meaning the rooftop unit isn’t getting power.

With no lights showing on your tester, your next move is to the thermostat. With analog thermostats, it’s possible to use a jumper to activate the control box, while bypassing the thermostat. If your tester lights when you use a jumper, you know the thermostat is at fault and must be replaced.

If you use a jumper, bypass the thermostat, and still have no lights, then you know the problem isn’t the thermostat, since your jumper removes it from the equation. You would then inspect connections from the thermostat to the control box and finally the control box itself. The steps for troubleshooting air conditioners from Dometic and RVP are covered more completely in their service manuals, and dedicated tech support is available over the phone.

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Finally, remember that hearing a click relay doesn’t mean anything. Power to the rooftop unit has to be verified before climbing the ladder. Otherwise, you may just be wasting your time, and darn it, it’s too hot for that!

Steve Savage is a Master Certified RV technician, the owner/operator of Mobility RV Service in Bristol, TN, and a member of the RV Technician Advisory Group. His articles appear frequently in consumer and industry magazines.

Electrical

Understanding EMS

By Christopher Friesen RVs are compact houses on wheels, and manufacturers have found ways to cram all the conveniences of a modern stationary home into them. RVs, however, are nomadic, and the power supply size and quality available in one location may not be the same in the next location. In many cases, an RV’s power requirements far exceed the capacity of the incoming shore power, leading to nuisance tripping of the shore power breaker. Energy management systems (EMS) were developed to combat that problem. This article will discuss how they can be used as a troubleshooting tool for technicians.

The EMS’s purpose is to prevent nuisance tripping of the shore power breaker. It does that by monitoring the power consumed inside the RV and controlling (i.e., switching off) a certain set of pre-selected coach loads. I’ll clarify with the following example.

A coach with a 30 amp service is parked in the driveway of a house where the only available electrical outlet is an exterior receptacle, fused at 20 amps. The RV owner plugs in with an adapter and switches both air conditioners on to “cool”. If each air conditioner uses 12 amps, the coach consumes a total of 24 amps just for the two air conditioners, and before long the breaker controlling the exterior receptacle is going to trip.

plain old inconvenience. The EMS monitors all the power being used in a coach, and if that power exceeds the limit of the incoming shore power, the EMS begins to switch certain loads off.

In the above example where two air conditioners use 24 amps, switching off one of the A/Cs would drop the total power consumption by 12 amps, bringing the total power used to less than the incoming supply size.

The EMS components The energy management system consists of two parts—a breaker panel containing the control electronics and a display panel for monitoring and simple control (see figures below).

Figure one: breaker panel

That’s the problem—a nuisance trip that removes all power from the coach which, if not caught immediately, can lead to spoiled food, excessive heating in the interior, and Page 11

Figure two: display panel

There are two sizes of EMS available—30 and 50 amps—and they operate the same.

The control module located inside the breaker panel contains relays used to switch off appliances and other loads. Only certain loads selected by the RV manufacturer are controlled by the EMS. Each manufacturer can place whatever loads it sees fit under control, and not all manufacturers choose the same appliances.

The control module has an AC side and a DC side; the former contains relays that switch line power and the latter contains relays that switch 12 volt power or ground, or can simply operate as a switch. DIP switches on the electronic module control the order that the relays switch off.

The EMS measures current with a sensor located inside the breaker panel. That current value is then displayed on the monitor panel in amps. The monitor panel also contains light-emitting diodes that correspond to the relays on the control board inside the breaker panel.

service, a 30 amp shore power supply. A 30 amp EMS will always assume it’s been plugged into a 30 amp shore power supply.

If a 50 or 30 amp EMS is plugged into a shore power supply less than 30 amps—say a 20 or a 15 amp receptacle—the 30/20 amp selector button on the monitor will need to be pushed to let the EMS know it should switch off loads when the current used inside the RV exceeds 20 amps.

Three-hour averaging One tricky little feature built into the EMS is the three-hour averaging function. This feature averages the power used inside the RV over a three-hour period, and if that average equals 80 percent of the incoming shore power breaker, the EMS will switch off loads until the power used is less than the 80 percent threshold.

When no relays have been switched, all LEDs on the monitor panel will be lit. If, however, an over-current condition arises, the EMS will begin to switch off loads, and the corresponding LEDs on the display will also switch off. This display gives the RV owner a visual indication of which appliances will not be working.

A tool for service technicians In addition to being a useful product for RV owners, the EMS can function as a terrific trouble-shooting tool for service technicians.

The current display can be used to monitor individual circuits and test for overload conditions within the coach that may be causing branch circuit breakers to trip. Or the power being consumed by an appliance can be checked and compared to its nameplate rating to ensure it’s operating properly.

Sensing different service sizes The 50 amp EMS detects when it’s plugged into a 50 amp shore power supply by sensing the voltage difference on the two incoming power lines. If the 50 amp EMS has been plugged into a service size less than 50 amps (through the use of an adapter), the EMS will assume it has been plugged into the next highest available

Troubleshooting Before starting work on an EMS, contact the RV manufacturer and get a copy of the system’s schematic. Also, make sure you understand which loads are being switched by the AC relays and which loads by the DC relays. Comprehensive troubleshooting manuals are available for downloading from www.intellitec.com.

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Training & Certification

An RV Technician Pioneer

By Tony Yerman One thing I’ve always loved about the RV business is that it’s filled with inventive, can-do individuals. This article is about one such industry pioneer. His name is Mitchell Graska, and his claim to pioneering is that he was the first technician to become certified—actually, master certified—in the Houston market area.

Catch-as-catch-can Mitch spent his early years helping his father, a professional electrician. He learned about electricity and the need for the right tool for the job. He got his first job out of high school as a welder at a fabricating shop. He also worked with his dad at his uncle’s garage, where he learned about mechanics and how to repair machines and equipment.

At 23, he got his first job in the RV business when he was hired by his girlfriend’s father, Felton Machost, at Felton’s RV Service.

Machost had been an Army motor sergeant, repairing tanks in World War II under General George Patton. He got his start in the RV business in the 1970s at Walt Meyers RV, a Condor Motorhome dealer.

Machost started Felton’s in 1978. He specialized in service and did not sell vehicles.

Mitch got most of his RV technical training on the job and by using service manuals from RV suppliers. “When I first started, there were no structured courses to learn the trade,” he says. At age 31, Mitch became service manager for Ron Hoover RV Company of Houston.

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Master technician Mitchell Graska

A new era of training As he was rising through the ranks, there were few sources of training, other than onthe-job and supplier manuals. But help was on the horizon—a test and course were being developed for just such a purpose. “In 1994, the nationwide program asked me and all of the instructors in the country to help write the procedure manuals for the RV training program that they were developing,” Mitch says.

The program he’s referring to is the RVIA Service Manual Textbook series, and he was asked to participate in a content review committee. Mitch learned a lot in the process and realized the need for even more education and training.

That same year, he was also asked to work with the Houston Community College (HCC) on an RV technician training program it was developing. “They insisted that all instructors have at least a two-year degree,” Mitch recalls. “At age 36, I finished my associate degree in RV technology. I’m not sure, but it might be the only one ever issued in Houston.”

I asked Mitch how HCC ever came up with this degree, and Mitch described it as a modified automotive technology program.

He had taken elective classes after he graduated from high school.

Mitch also received training from the Texas Railroad Commission Handbook on propane theory, application, and use. And he took training from Harrison Equipment on Onan generators.

The training/certification payoff Mitch was first certified as a master technician in 1996. Since then, he has recertified three times, most recently using the RVDA/RVIA Certification Test Preparation Course for his 40 hours of continued education requirement. I asked him how tough it was to get his certification. “The test was very difficult—you really have to have a personal desire to study for and pass the test,” he says.

Since he already had a job teaching RV repair and an associate degree as a technician, why did he bother getting certified? He says that training and certification “put you in the fast lane, even ahead of those with years of experience.”

I asked how certification had helped his career, both as an instructor and as a technician. “I have felt a huge respect for Page 14

the knowledge that training and certification represent,” he says.

Finally, I asked him the big question—are you earning more money because of the certification? Does this and what you got out of the Certification Test Preparation Course affect you income? Mitch responds in the affirmative. “A certified technician can earn $2.00 to $3.00 per hour more than a noncertified tech, and a master certified tech can earn $5.00-plus per hour more, and bonuses,” he says.

Mitch highly recommends the Technician Certification Test Preparation Course to other technicians. He says it helped him by refreshing what he already knew but took for granted. He thinks it’s equally valuable for beginners and longtime technicians. He also says it would have been difficult to accomplish what he has without the support of fellow technicians and the dealers he’s worked for in the past.

In my mind, Mitchell is truly an RV business pioneer. He has what it takes: training, certification, and hard work, as well as support from fellow techs and employers.

Good luck, Mitchell!

For more information about the RVDA/RVIA Certification Test Preparation Course, visit www.rvlearningcenter.com.

RVDA Service Consultant Tony Yerman is an Ohio-based master certified technician, repair specialist, and the author of the RV Damage Repair Estimator. He can be contacted at tyerman@rvda.org.

Top This!

Question Everything—Especially Your Own Assumptions

By Steve Savage

An RV’s front and rear air had already been Given the number working on it and it of years I’ve conditioners wouldn’t run was hanging free worked on RVs, I simultaneously. of the box (I know, I should be a lot But had they ever? know—a major red smarter than I am. flag), I decided to My downfall is start there. My first believing what step was to kill the customers tell me. power, which I did by shutting off the main Most service calls start out innocently at the breaker box. Since the customer enough: A customer says everything was didn’t mention anything about the breaker working fine and then suddenly stopped box, I didn’t ask anything about the breaker working. Must be magic, he says. Not to box (mistake number one). worry, I say, reversing bad magic is what I do best. But what I often discover along the My second step was to reset the GFI with way is that sometimes I just don’t ask the the power off, reasoning that if it couldn’t be right question. reset with the power turned off, I likely had a bad GFI. If I was successful in resetting it A shocking discovery with the power off and then it snapped open My first story involves a ground fault circuit when I turned the power back on, there was interrupter (GFI) that refused to be reset. As an issue with the circuit. you know, a GFI is supposed to keep folks from getting shocked by monitoring the flow of current through the circuit. If it detects current failing to follow the correct path, it snaps open and shuts down the circuit. It can’t be reset until the problem is corrected.

Normally, there’s not much to this type of repair.

The camper in this story was a mid-90s fifth wheel in overall good shape with a GFI that supposedly just stopped working. My first thought was that it may have failed, as happens occasionally. Since the customer

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Taking the GFI in hand (mistake number two), things didn’t go as well as I planned.

As current surged through my body, I realized two things—I needed to release my grasp on the GFI, and I needed to recheck the breaker box. That is, after I unplugged the fiver from the shoreline, because something was clearly not right.

With the shoreline unplugged, I swung the distribution center door down and removed the cover plate over the circuit breakers, discovering an interesting innovation—the

neutral lead was feeding the main breaker, and the hot lead was attached to the neutral buss. Wonder how that could have happened. I’m betting it was someone who tried to correct a GFI problem by reversing the polarity at the breaker box.

“Broken” air conditioners My next incident involves a motorhome with all the bells and whistles, including an inverter and solar panels installed by the previous owner. The new owner brought the coach to me, complaining that he couldn’t operate the front and rear air conditioners at the same time, even though the coach had a 50-amp service. He asked me to fix the problem. My error was assuming that when someone asks me to fix something, he’s implying that it had originally worked.

At first glance, nothing looked out of the ordinary for a somewhat dated diesel pusher from a manufacturer long since out of business. Using the generator, each air conditioner worked separately, and it was possible to turn one unit to fan and the other to cool without a problem. But turning them both to cool resulted in run time of about a minute before blowing a breaker at the genset.

Exploring further, I found the coach had been almost completely rewired. The original distribution box was still in place, but now power came first to a 50-amp double throw in a separate box. This 50-

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amp breaker in turn split to the original distribution panel and two smaller distribution panels. The second panel, which fed the air conditioners, relied on a 20-amp main breaker. Naturally, I didn’t see how this system could ever have worked when both air conditioners were being fed through the same 20-amp breaker.

The million-dollar question At this point, I finally got around to asking what I should have asked in the beginning— “When did both air conditioners last work at the same time?”

Without batting an eye, the customer said, “Oh, they’ve never both worked at the same time.” In fact, the previous owner had told him when he bought the coach that they could only be run one at a time!

This information led to a discussion about how much it would cost for me to trace circuits and rewire the coach correctly and with the customer deciding he could learn to live with things the way they were.

Sooner or later, I’m going to learn to ask the right questions.

Steve Savage is a Master Certified RV technician, the owner/operator of Mobility RV Service in Bristol, TN, and a member of the RV Technician Advisory Group. His articles appear frequently in consumer and industry magazines.

New Products

Sani-Con Holding Tank Emptying System Thetford's Sani-Con System makes emptying the rig’s holding tank cleaner and more convenient. Its heavy-duty transfer and macerating pump grinds and liquefies black water waste, then pumps it through an extra heavy-duty 1-inch diameter discharge hose. It can pump waste up terrain without a constant slope or clumsy hose supports. Sani-Con’s long-lasting discharge hose stretches to 21 feet and retracts to 7 feet for storage. The hose has an easy-to-use nozzle that fits securely into a variety of dump station inlets, eliminating the need for adapters. The nozzle has a screw-on cap that prevents drips and spills during storage. The system is available in permanently-installed and portable models.

Weight-Distributing Hitch For A Safe, Smooth Ride Ultra-Fab’s new weight-distributing hitch balances weight between the trailer and tow vehicle and keeps the tow vehicle level, minimizing fishtailing and increasing

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passenger safety and comfort. Constructed from rugged steel, the hitch has a tapered round-bar design and a durable black powder-coated finish. It comes with an adjustable high-low shank and a three-year manufacturer’s warranty. The new hitch also comes in a Triple Combo Ultra Weight/Sway Kit with an Ultra Sway Control and an Ultra Hitch Ball.

GPS Unit Designed For RVers The Magellan RoadMate Pro 9165T is a fullfeatured GPS navigation device designed for RV travelers with a high-definition, 7-inch touch screen; heavy-duty extension mount, Bluetooth connection to enable hands-free calling through the unit's speakerphone, and free lifetime traffic alerts that warn drivers of delays and suggest alternative routes.

This new device combines the benefits of Magellan, the Good Sam Club, and the Trailer Life RV Parks & Campground Directory. The directory provides more than 11,700 listings for the United States and Canada, including WiFi and Internet access locations, pet-friendly campgrounds, Good Sam Club discount locations, Trailer Life's exclusive triple rating system, and other points of interest specific to RVers.

RoadMate users can enter vehicle dimensions into the device and get the best routes for their oversized units, allowing them to avoid low bridges and weightlimited roads.

RECALLS

Featherlite Recalls Trailers Featherlite is recalling approximately 127 trailers from model years 2007 through 2012 that are equipped with Arvinmeritor axles that contain the FAG Brand bearing system. The bearing system has exhibited low durability life in certain vehicle applications. Prolonged use of the system in these applications can result in the degradation of the bearing grease, potentially resulting in bearing failure and subsequent wheel end fire.

Featherlite has notified owners and Arvinmeritor is performing the repairs free of charge. Owners can contact Arvinmeritor’s Ontrac Performance Plus call center at 1866-668-7221 or Featherlite at 1-563-5476000.

Fleetwood Recalls Motorhomes Fleetwood RV is recalling certain model year 2009 American Allegiance, American Heritage, Revolution LE; model year 2010 American Eagle, American Heritage, Revolution, and model year 2011 American Eagle, American Heritage, American Tradition, Discovery, Providence, and Revolution LE, CLASS A motorhomes manufactured from September 4, 2009 through January 5, 2011. These vehicles have misprinted labels relating to the intermediate and rear tire pressure ratings.

A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation, which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fleetwood will mail correct tags to dealers and owners along with installation

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instructions. A t the customer’s discretion, a dealer can perform the installation free of charge.

Dutchmen Wiring Recall Dutchmen is recalling certain model year 2012 Infinity travel trailers manufactured from February 4, 2011, through June 30, 2011, because the 12-volt main wiring in the front bulkhead compartment is incorrectly routed. On the electrical bus bar mounted to the bulkhead in the compartment, only the main power feed from the disconnect switch should be connected to the lower section of the bus bar. However, the power feed line to the solenoid for the hydraulic pump system is also wired to the lower portion of the bus bar. This circuit is not protected by an auto reset breaker. In the event of a short or ground, the unprotected circuit could result in a fire.

Dealers will install an additional auto reset breaker to the bus bar and connect the power feed for the hydraulic pump system to the added breaker, which will give it the required over current protection. This service will be performed free of charge.

Owners may contact Dutchmen at 1-574537-0700.

Eclipse Tire Label Recall Eclipse is recalling certain model year 20112012 Milan Tl18CK and TL22CK recreational vehicles manufactured from December 20, 2010, through February 11, 2011, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection

and Rims." These vehicles where produced with the wrong tire placard label. A misprinted label could lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash. Eclipse will mail to dealers and consumers the corrected label, or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge.

Owners may contact Eclipse at 1-951-6846868.

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Dutchmen Fuel Line Recall Dutchmen is recalling certain model year 2012 Voltage travel trailers manufactured from January 3, 2011, through July 8, 2011, with fuel supply and fuel return hoses that may contain a splice in the fuel line. Spliced lines can leak fuel, resulting in a potential fire. Dealers will inspect and repair/replace fuel lines replaced free of charge. Owners may contact Dutchmen at 1-574-537-0700.

The RV Learning Center proudly recognizes the following

CONTRIBUTORS: Additional/New Contributions Received 7/01/10-7/01/12 Ace Fogdall, Inc. Affinity RV Service Sales & Rentals All Seasons (CA) Alpin Haus Altmans Winnebago American RV Best Value RV Bill Plemmons RV World Bill Thomas Bill Thomas Camper Sales, Inc. Byerly RV Center Camperland of Oklahoma, LLC Campers Inn of Kingston Capital R.V. Center, Inc. Carolina Coach & Camper Carpenter’s Campers, Inc. Circle K RVs, Inc. Crestview RV Center Curtis Trailers, Inc. Diversified Insurance Management, Inc. Dixie RV Superstore Bill & Kristin Fenech Floyd's Recreational Vehicles Sherman Goldenberg Greeneway, Inc. (Route 66 Dealer) Hartville RV Center Hayes RV Center Hemlock Hill RV Sales, Inc. Ronnie Hepp Hilltop Trailer Sales, Inc. Holiday World of Houston Horsey Family Memorial Fund J.D. Sanders, Inc. Jamatt RV Sales La Mesa RV Center, Inc. Madison RV Supercenter Manteca Trailer & Camper Maxxair Vent Corporation MBA Insurance, Inc. McClain's RV Superstore Craig Mellor Mike Molino Rose Zella Morris Motley RV Repair Myers RV Center, Inc. Newmar Corporation Newell Coach Niel’s Motor Homes Noble RV, Inc. Open Range RV Company Pan Pacific RV Centers, Inc. Paul Evert's RV Country, Inc. PleasureLand RV Center, Inc. PPL MotorHomes Protective RCD Sales Company, Ltd. Reines RV Center, Inc. Rich & Sons Camper Sales Rivers Bus & RV Sales RV World Recreation Vehicle Center RV Outlet Mall Skyline RV & Home Sales, Inc. Spader 20 Group #20 Stag Parkway Steinbring Motor Coach Tacoma RV Center Tarpley RV The Trail Center Tiffin Motor Homes, Inc. United RV United States Warranty Corporation Wilkins R.V., Inc. Winnebago Industries, Inc. The Kindlund Family Scholarship Endowment

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Received 7/01/10-09/01/11 $3,000 $1,000 $49 $4,000 $5,000 $250 $1,750 $2,550 $500 $500 $6,000 $750 $7,000 $1,000 $100 $3,000 $500 $1,000 $1,000 $2,200 $5,000 $10,000 $250 $25 $8,300 $250 $100 $2,000 $275 $41 $5,000 $6,000 $250 $500 $10 $500 $501 $250 $1,100 $5,000 $100 $175 $25 $1,100 $1,200 $5,000 $1,000 $250 $400 $2,000 $500 $1,875 $350 $100 $19,061 $500 $2,500 $2,000 $2,000 $250 $200 $250 $1,700 $5,250 $250 $500 $250 $100 $2,500 $1,000 $2,000 $4,200 $1,000

Total Received $36,600 $6,000 $37,049 $16,500 $50,500 $5,925 $1,750 $7,550 $500 $20,500 $16,000 $3,850 $32,422 $6,000 $100 $4,000 $5,750 $1,500 $7,000 $14,400 $15,000 $50,000 $250 $25 $13,300 $10,250 $5,100 $6,000 $325 $1,581 $25,000 $67,000 $2,500 $500 $3,510 $4,000 $4,501 $2,500 $13,100 $35,000 $100 $10,761 $25 $7,940 $2,000 $115,000 $1,000 $250 $400 $2,500 $36,500 $25,000 $75,350 $100 $87,845 $1,250 $20,025 $4,000 $16,850 $1,850 $1,550 $250 $1,700 $32,100 $250 $500 $4,500 $1,100 $18,500 $1,000 $4,250 $13,600 $26,000 $270,000

Last Contribution Received 11/1/2010 8/30/2010 7/10/2010 7/11/2011 1/21/2011 1/25/2011 5/12/2011 5/27/2011 10/26/2010 10/26/2010 12/20/2010 7/1/2011 7/11/2011 12/7/2010 3/30/2011 6/24/2011 6/28/2011 12/17/2010 12/7/2010 6/14/2011 8/18/2010 7/29/2010 10/19/2010 2/23/2011 12/3/2010 6/28/2011 1/28/2011 9/16/2010 2/23/2011 6/20/2011 8/24/2010 6/17/2011 9/01/2011 12/3/2010 12/30/2010 8/22/2011 6/24/2011 6/30/2011 6/01/2011 6/14/2011 10/25/2010 2/17/2011 10/25/2010 12/7/2010 12/16/2010 12/8/2010 9/01/2011 6/20/2011 6/16/2011 04/6/2011 10/21/2010 4/14/2011 2/10/2011 8/12/2010 12/7/2010 12/20/2010 12/20/2010 2/17/2011 6/21/2011 12/10/2010 6/10/2011 7/14/2011 3/30/2011 11/12/2010 10/14/2010 7/7/2010 9/10/2010 11/01/2010 4/19/2011 9/9/2010 4/19/2011 6/17/2011 1/7/2011

RV Technician Certification Preparation Course Every RV Technician Can Have Access to Individual Self‐Study Training and Certification Preparation Interactive-Multimedia, Online Format • Combines text, audio, graphics, and video, with mentor-led technician community forum – all content is online (no extra books or handouts needed)

Developed by RVIA Available through the RV Learning Center

Corresponds to RV Certification Test Sections • Propane; Electrical; Plumbing; Brakes, Suspension & Towing; Appliances; Generators; Hydraulics; Exterior; Interior; Expandable Rooms; Miscellaneous (Welding Safety, Customer Care) • Fulfills 40-hour RVDA-RVIA Service Technician recertification requirement • RVIA RV Service Technician recertification requirement

Personal Progress Tracking

• Automatically tracks individual’s progress • Quizzes after each chapter and section with immediate feedback • 205 question assessment that’s similar to the RV technician certification test

Registration information

$249 per technician*

Company: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone:

Fax:

In order for the program to function properly, each technician MUST have his own personal e-mail address that only he has access to.

*Quantity discounts available when registering four or more technicians at one time. E-mail info@rvda.org or call 703-591-7130 for details. Note: Registration fee subject to change without notice.

Sign up the following RV technicians from our dealership: Name: E-mail: Name: E-mail: Name: E-mail: Send progress reports to the following supervisor: Name:

Title:

E-mail:

Method of payment

Important: • The RV Technician Certification Preparation course offers RV service technicians the means to prepare for certification through an online, self-study format. A computer with high-speed Internet is needed to access the course.

• Visit www.rvtechnician.com for information about the RVDA-RVIA RV Service Technician certification program. The certification testing fee is not included in the course registration fee.

• Registration gives the technician 365 days to complete the course by achieving 80% or higher on the final practice test. The technician should plan for certification testing within the enrollment period since course extensions are not available.

All registrations must be pre-paid in U.S. funds.

□ Check enclosed (make check payable to The RV Learning Center) □ Send invoice (RVDA members only) □ VISA □ MC □ AMEX □ DISCOVER C Cardholder’sName:_____ Acct. number: Cardholder’s signature: Billing address:

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Exp._______ Security code: _ Return completed form to: RVDA I 3930 University Drive I Fairfax, VA 22030 I Ph. (703) 591-7130 I Fax (703) 359-0152 www.rvlearningcenter.com I info@rvda.org

10th Edition Service Management Guide (Flat Rate Manual) The expanded Service Management Guide offers over 100 pages of average work unit times for the most basic service functions performed by competent RV technicians. th



The 10 Edition of the Service Management Guide offers extensive updates and additions provided by dealers, service managers, and technicians.



It also offers all new Service Check Sheets that provide a valuable reference for service managers and technicians.



It is a great tool for the service department when working with extended service contracts.



The Service Management Guide is also available in CD-ROM.

The Service Management Guide is designed to provide reasonable guidance relative to the time required for competent technicians to complete assigned tasks. It is an important part of the service management system, but it is not intended to be the sole determinant of prices or rates charged in that sale of service.

Manual or CD-ROM: RVDA Members $164.95

Non-Members: $330.00

Manual and CD-ROM: RVDA Members $275.00

Non-Members: $550.00

Order Online at http://www.rvlearningcenter.com - prices are subject to change without notice

Order Form – 10th Edition Service Management Guide (Flat Rate Manual) Name:____________________________________________________________________________________________ Company Name:___________________________________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________________________________ City:__________________________________________State:________Zip Code:______________________________ Phone:___________________________________Fax:______________________E-mail:________________________ ___RVDA Member

___Non-RVDA Member Manual - # of Copies:___ CD-ROM - # of Copies:____

Method of payment (Please check one) ___Check enclosed (Made Payable to The RVDA Education Foundation) ___Send an invoice (members only) Credit Card: __Visa __Master Card __American Express Card Number:____________________________________________Expiration Date:___________________________ Name on Card:_____________________________________Signature:______________________________________ Billing Address:_________________________________________________________Billing Zip:_________________

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RVDA, 3930 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 591-7130, Fax (703) 359-0152, Email: info@rvda.org

Online Training with FRVTA’s

DISTANCE LEARNING NETWORK FRVTA–RV Learning Center Partnership

supplier-specific advanced repair and troubleshooting classes designed to upgrade technicians’ skills.

Completion of these classes qualifies for recertification hours. Classes are available 24/7 throughout the program year, providing maximum flexibility.

$995 per year for each dealership location.

Over 50 sessions available, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with full access to training through July 31, 2012.

The DLN offers your dealership: • • • • •

Onsite training Group training No travel time or expenses Self-determined pace One fixed price of $995 for the subscription term

• Service Writers/Advisors – This three-hour program is valuable for both new staff and experienced personnel preparing for the RV Learning Center’s Service Writer/Advisor certification.

• Greeters/Receptionists – This 50-minute session is suitable for all employees who need customer service skills. It includes a final exam and certificate of completion.

The DLN offers online training for:

• RV Technicians – The certification prep course helps technicians get ready for the certification exam.

Your subscription includes unlimited access to more • Dealers/GMs – This program features important topics for management, including lemon laws, LP gas than 50 training sessions, reviews, and test preparalicensing issues, and the federal Red Flags Rule. tion sections. Also included are manufacturer- and

DEALERSHIP REGISTRATION Company Name: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________ City:________________________ State: ____ Zip: __________ Phone: ______________________________________________ Fax: __________________________________________________ Mentor Name: ________________________________________________________ Phone: ______________________________ E-mail (at dealership) : __________________________________________________ Fax: ________________________________

**High speed Internet access required. RVIA service textbooks not included** _____ location(s) at $995 each = payment due: $__________________ (select payment method below)

PAYMENT METHOD

❑

Complete lower section and mail or fax to:

PAY BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER

❑

PAY BY VISA OR MASTERCARD

Florida RV Trade Association, 10510 Gibsonton Drive, Riverview, FL 33578, (813) 741-0488, Fax: (813) 741-0688 Name on Credit Card: ______________________________________________________________________________________ Card Number: ________________________ Security Code: _________ Expires: ______________________________________ Card Billing Address: ________________________________ City:________________________ State: ____ Zip: __________ Card Holder Signature: ______________________________________________________________________________________

For more information, call (386) 754-4285 or go to www.fgc.edu/rv-institute.aspx Page 23